Chapter 11 - THE PROPOSAL AT GUNPOINT
Daniel had made one mistake.
He assumed fear could manufacture consent.
The Bell trust did not.
Vincent knew that.
So did I.
If I said yes under direct coercion, the merger could later be invalidated.
But Daniel wanted the system to record voluntary biometric consent.
Vincent was buying time.
I looked at him.
“Terrible proposal.”
His mouth twitched.
“I’ve had a difficult day.”
“No ring.”
“I can improve.”
“No flowers.”
“Also fixable.”
Daniel shouted,
“Enough!”
I flinched.
Vincent didn’t.
His eyes stayed on mine.
“Evelyn.”
“Yes?”
“Do you trust me?”
Strangely.
Insanely.
“Yes.”
His expression softened.
“Then marry me.”
My heart pounded.
Not because of Daniel.
Because Vincent sounded like he meant it.
I whispered,
“Yes.”
Daniel smiled.
The officiant began.
Samuel moved toward the control panel.
Vincent glanced once at Marco’s hidden camera above the vent.
Signal.
Everything was being recorded.
Police had proof.
The ceremony lasted four minutes.
Longest four minutes of my life.
When the officiant asked Vincent whether he took me as his wife, he looked directly into my eyes.
“I do.”
My chest tightened.
My turn.
“Do you, Evelyn Hartwell—”
Gunfire exploded outside.
Daniel spun.
Vincent moved.
He pulled me behind him.
Marco’s team breached the room.
Police entered from the rear corridor.
Samuel ran toward the server.
Patricia kicked his knee.
He fell.
Excellent woman.
Daniel grabbed the control drive.
Vincent tackled him.
The gun slid away.
I ran toward it.
Samuel grabbed my ankle.
I kicked him.
Hard.
“Your mother kicked harder,” he spat.
I froze.
Wrong thing to say.
I kicked him again.
“You would know.”
Police pinned him.
Across the room, Vincent had Daniel against the wall.
His fist raised.
Daniel laughed.
“Do it.”
Vincent’s hand tightened.
I knew what Daniel wanted.
Proof Vincent was just another violent Marino.
“Vincent.”
He looked at me.
“Stop.”
Silence.
His fist lowered.
Exactly like that.
Daniel’s smile disappeared.
Police handcuffed him.
Project Sovereign’s entire database was secured.
The Bell server was copied by federal investigators.
Names.
Crimes.
Evidence.
Decades.
Then Anna came running into the room.
“You didn’t finish the vows.”
I stared.
“What?”
She looked at the documents.
“You said yes, but the officiant never completed the legal declaration.”
Vincent looked at me.
“So we’re not married?”
“Legally, no.”
Something strange passed between us.
Relief?
Disappointment?
Both?
Daniel laughed from the floor.
“All that for nothing.”
Anna smiled.
“Not quite.”
She held up another document.
“Your voluntary declarations triggered the trust pre-merger stage.”
My stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?”
“Daniel’s succession rights are suspended.”
Vincent smiled.
For once, Daniel looked afraid.
“So we won.”
“Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
Anna looked at us.
“The pre-merger expires in seventy-two hours.”
I stared.
“And then?”
“If you don’t complete the marriage legally, the rights reset.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Vincent looked at me.
“No pressure.”
I laughed.
“You are a terrible liar.”
Then Patricia, still seated on the floor, said quietly,
“There’s something else.”
Everyone turned.
She looked at my mother.
“Margaret never told Evelyn why Rose wanted the Marino merger preserved.”
My mother went pale.
I stared.
“Mom?”
She whispered,
“Because Rose trusted Raffaele.”
Vincent looked toward her.
“With what?”
My mother’s eyes filled.
“With Evelyn.”
I froze.
“What does that mean?”
She looked at me.
“Your grandmother left instructions.”
My heart pounded.
“What instructions?”
“If the Bellatori ever returned…”
May you like
She looked at Vincent.
“Rose wanted a Marino to protect you.”
